Building a Boom Pole - thoughts?

[AmericanTractorDriver]

Hello,

Did a search but didn't see too much about this.

I think a boom pole would be very useful. Yes, I have seen the $75-100 ones on craigslist. However, they are usually beat up, bent up, and often light duty. I figured that I will try to find a cheap source for metal, and by manufacturing my own, work on my welding skills.

I'd like to build one loosely similar to the King Kutter HD model. If I find steel second-hand somewhere, do I need to be concerned about the grade? I assume a 3x3 or 3x4 tube is going to be sufficient as long as the metal is straight and not cracked or otherwise damaged.

Any thoughts or concerns about building my own boom pole similar to this? If anything, I will err on the side of extra metal and strength. Anyone know what thickness their tube is - maybe 1/4"? I will go with a minimum of whatever the commercial builders use to be safe.

Also - although I am not this far into the design yet - does anyone happen to have a chart showing the proper dimensions for 3-pt attachment points that are also QH and iMatch compatible? If not, I'll gather it all and put it together, but thought maybe there's a chart with all the dimensions in one place.

 

[handirifle]

Knowing what little I know, I would think all of your question would be better answered by stating what you plan on lifting with it.

 

[AmericanTractorDriver]

Knowing what little I know, I would think all of your question would be better answered by stating what you plan on lifting with it.

Anything that is within a reasonable weight limit... moving maybe lifting a 3-pt attachment off a trailer, maybe a moderate log (not huge tree trunk), a large piece of angle iron,...

Thanks.

 

[Aging TOO Fast]

the other question besides what you want to lift...is what size tractor will it
be mounted on?

a design thought,
would you want it to be able to lift higher than the
3ph allows? i.e. like a engine hoist (cherry picker),
or maybe be a fixed angle boom-
vertically adjustable with a pin to adjust for lifting off a trailer or out of a
pickup truck bed?

 

[AmericanTractorDriver]

the other question besides what you want to lift...is what size tractor will it
be mounted on?

a design thought,
would you want it to be able to lift higher than the
3ph allows? i.e. like a engine hoist (cherry picker),
or maybe be a fixed angle boom-
vertically adjustable with a pin to adjust for lifting off a trailer or out of a
pickup truck bed?

Aging,

Good thoughts. I wanted to build it to fit either cat I or cat II hitches. Other attachments do this with a dual clevis hitch arrangement.

I had not thought about using two pins to hold the boom in place, to allow for adjustment. However, I think that might make it weaker under side loads? I'm still thinking out loud here, and brainstorming.

 

[J_J]

Here is mine that I adapted for the front.

I can use it on the Power-Trac, or a tractor.

 

[bullbreaker]

Here is mine that I adapted for the front.

I can use it on the Power-Trac, or a tractor.

Real neat set-up JJ ! :thumbsup:

Here's pic's of mine.

Boone

 

[Jesse masterson]

If you want something simple and fast use a 6by6 or 4 by 4 box in both ends about a foot up both ends weld a hook on one end and a peice of angle with holes in it to bolt to the front bucket. The 4 by 4 I have will pick up more weight than you think and only have about 40 bucks in it.and takes about 30 minutes.

 

[J_J]

I also put a 2 in hitch tube on the end so I could use these.

 

[swick1]

I use a 3" tube 8 feet long with a 1/8" wall on my 1026r loader to lift 1000lb at the base, 500lb in the middle and 250lb at the end. These are tested weights. I don't know what the actual limit is. It is supported at 4 ft by chains that go to the bucket hooks. The base slips over the cutting edge. Very easy on and off!